No other business of its kind did more than the Herman Miller Furniture Company to introduce modern design into American homes. Working with legendary designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson and Alexander Girard, the Zeeland, Michigan-based firm fostered some of the boldest expressions of what we now call mid-century modern style. In doing so, Herman Miller produced some of the most beautiful, iconic and, one can even say, noblest chairs, sofas, tables and other furniture ever.
Founded in 1923, Herman Miller was originally known for grand historicist bedroom suites: heavily ornamented wood furniture that appealed to a high-minded, wealthier clientele. The company — named for its chief financial backer — began to suffer in the early 1930s as the Great Depression hit, and D.J. De Pree, the company’s CEO, feared bankruptcy. In 1932, aid came in the form of Gilbert Rohde, a self-taught furniture designer who had traveled widely in Europe, absorbing details of the Art Deco movement and other modernist influences. After persuading De Pree that the growing middle class required smaller, lighter household furnishings, Rohde set a new course for Herman Miller, creating sleek chairs, tables and cabinetry that were the essence of the Streamline Moderne style.
Rohde died suddenly in 1944. The following year, De Pree turned to George Nelson, an architect who had written widely about modern furniture design. Under Nelson’s leadership, Herman Miller would embrace new technologies and materials and audacious biomorphic forms.
Some of the pieces the company produced are now emblems of 20th century American design, including the Eames lounge chair and ottoman and Nelson’s Marshmallow sofa and Coconut chair. Such instantly recognizable furnishings have become timeless — staples of a modernist décor; striking, offbeat notes in traditional environments.
Find a range of vintage Herman Miller office chairs, desks, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
| Average Sold Price |
| $3,085 |
| Styles |
| Materials |
| Related Creators |
Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman Set, Black Leather, 1960s USA
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Portland, OR
Iconic Eames lounge chair with ottoman. Model 670/671 in black leather and Brazilian rosewood. Produced during the 1960s, this example retains its original labels underneath. It is i...
Steel
$6,850
H 30 in W 29 in D 28 in
Eames Time Life "Lobby" Chair - Caramel Leather - 1st Generation Model 675
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller, Charles Eames, Ray Eames
Located in Decatur, GA
Time Life Lobby Chair by Ray and Charles Eames for Herman Miller, circa 1960. Rare 1st Gen fully restored in brand new Edelman All Grain "Butter" leather. Swivels with a fixed pitch/...
Aluminum
$5,789
H 15.75 in W 35.44 in D 47.25 in
Early Noguchi Coffee Table by Herman Miller, First Production, 1950s
By Herman Miller, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Brescia, Brescia
An early production Noguchi Coffee Table designed by Isamu Noguchi and manufactured by Herman Miller in the 1950s. Introduced in 1947, the Noguchi Coffee Table is widely regarded ...
Glass, Ash
$8,500 / set
H 31.5 in W 33.5 in D 35 in
2003 Herman Miller Eames Cherry & Tobacco Leather Lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in St. Louis, MO
An exceptional, highly sophisticated, and rarely specified mid-century modern design icon: the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman (Models 670 and 671), designed by the legendary duo Char...
Aluminum
$3,750 / item
H 34.5 in W 26.75 in D 30 in
Eames Executive Chair Time-Life Lobby Chair Herman Miller Mid Century
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, the iconic Eames Executive Chair, also widely known as the Time-Life Lobby Chair. It was designed in 1960 by the famous husband-and-wife design team, Charles ...
Aluminum
$1,920Sale Price|20% Off
H 34 in W 26 in D 27.25 in
Tandem Sling Armchair by Ray and Charles Eames for Herman Miller, c 1970
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This single 'Tandem' sling armchair, designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, is part of the iconic modular seating system originally introduced for airports and public spaces in the mid-20th century. The design reflects the Eameses’ ability to combine industrial efficiency with refined modernist aesthetics. *NOTE, we have another one in a separate listing if you wish to create a pair of chairs. The chair features a cast aluminum frame with a sculptural profile, supporting a suspended sling seat and back upholstered in black leatherette. The tailored upholstery is tensioned within the frame, creating a supportive yet flexible seating experience while maintaining a clean, architectural silhouette. Originally conceived as part of a connected beam seating system, this example has been configured as an individual armchair, allowing it to function as a standalone piece in a variety of interior settings. The aluminum frame provides both durability and visual lightness, while the black upholstery offers a timeless and versatile palette. The gently reclined back and integrated armrests contribute to the chair’s comfort, making it well-suited for use as a lounge chair, office chair, side chair, or accent chair. Its industrial origins also lend themselves well to interiors ranging from Mid-Century Modern and Modernist to Industrial and Contemporary environments. The Eames Tandem...
Aluminum
$2,501
H 28.75 in W 19.3 in D 20.48 in
Walnut Dining Chair Wood DCW by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller 1950s
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Brussels, Brussels
An early and highly desirable DCW (Dining Chair Wood) by Charles & Ray Eames, manufactured by Herman Miller in the United States between 1950 and 1953. Recognized as one of the defi...
Walnut, Plywood
$1,950
H 14.75 in Dm 39.75 in
George Nelson for Herman Miller Coffee Table - Model 5756 - Walnut + Aluminum
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Decatur, GA
Scarce George Nelson for Herman Miller Model 5756 Cocktail Table in walnut and aluminum, circa 1950s. The juxtaposition of the hard lines and right angles of the aluminum base agains...
Aluminum
| Sold Date | Sold Price | Category | Material | Creation Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| $3,085 |
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months |
| $100-$36,417 |
| Sold price range of items in the past 12 months |
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
The prolific manufacturer has partnered with many of the world’s top designers since opening its doors in 1923. Here are some of the company’s greatest hits, which helped transform the American home and office.
The brand that turned Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson into mid-century household names is just as relevant today as it was six decades ago.
Photographer Susan Ressler revisits the office life of decades past, whose style still resonates.
The Antwerp-based designer lends his unique touch to homes, boutiques and offices in Belgium, the United States and Germany, as well as furniture for B&B Italia and Molteni.
